McCain Announces Sarah Palin as VP Choice, Who?
In a surprising move on Friday, John McCain announced that his running mate is Republican Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. The most remarkable election year in generations became even more interesting.
Loading …McCain’s Palin announcement was a successful media coup to change the story headlines quickly. Apparently, the McCain campaign agreed with many people in thinking that Barack Obama gave a sensational speech on Thursday to cap off a highly energized and united Democratic Party Convention. One day later, media attention understandably focused on the first female Republican nominee for the Vice-Presidency.
This tactic certainly worked on me. As an amateur blogger, I have unfortunately little time to devote to this blog. I try to address the big issues as they arise, and the Palin nomination is certainly important and historic. Consequently, I am delaying my post on the Democratic Convention briefly, even though this story is also very big news.
Sarah Palin is NOT well-known. We have learned she has been governor of Alaska since 2006, and before that Palin was mayor of Wasilla (population of less than 10,000). She also was runner-up in the Miss Alaska contest of 1984. Palin is 44 years old, has a lifetime membership in the National Rifle Association (NRA), and enjoys mooseburgers. Her social politics: she wants to outlaw ALL abortions and opposes gay marriage. She was FOR Alaska’s “bridge to nowhere” before she was AGAINST it. Like John McCain, Sarah Palin embraces the maverick label, although critics argue that both McCain and Palin support virtually all of the same policies as George Bush.
Immediately upon her selection as running mate, media voices on the left denounced her and those on the right praised her.
Many Democrats criticize McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin as a gimmick and a clumsy attempt to win over disgruntled supporters of Hillary Clinton. They characterize Palin as a “lightweight” given her very limited relevant governmental experience. Many Democrats strongly question Palin’s ability to be an effective President of the United States, which of course is the primary requirement for a Vice-President. McCain’s advanced age (72) and past health problems increase the chances that Palin would need to step into the presidency. Some argue that the Palin nomination is insulting to women because McCain passed over other female Republican officials who are much better suited for the role (e.g., Christine Todd Whitman).
The selection of Sarah Palin energized the John McCain campaign really for the first time. Many Republicans are celebrating the Palin choice for several reasons. Many believe Governor Palin represents the true core conservative principles while also being a Washington outsider and maverick. “Culturally”, Palin reflects the “true American values” and lifestyle of Main Street USA - who doesn’t love mooseburgers? Republicans now are showing much more enthusiasm for John McCain because they believe the Palin nomination proves that McCain is a bold leader with vision. Sarah Palin helps to unite and motivate the Republican base. Furthermore, some argue the choice is “tactically brilliant” because the McCain/Palin ticket offers Republicans a solid ability to win over more undecided women, especially the Hillary Clinton supporters who have resisted jumping on the Barack Obama bandwagon. Sarah Palin may also appeal to younger voters, and her selection shows that John McCain is also ready to “pass the torch” to a new generation.
Like most voters, I am still trying to figure out “who is Sarah Palin”? I am happy that John McCain chose a woman. We are long overdue to break the glass ceiling that has blocked woman and non-whites from attaining the highest levels of power. I worry that Palin’s policy positions continue the same old George Bush ideology that has devastated our economy, harmed our international standing, and unnecessarily divided us at a time when we especially need to come together. But we will see - I never really thought about Sarah Palin until Friday.
Republicans have criticized Barack Obama for “lack of experience”, but the Palin selection removes this as a credible argument against Obama. The “founding fathers”, the framers of the Constitution wanted all elected officials to be ordinary citizens as opposed to creating a professional leadership class. The world is more complicated now and our leaders may need a bit more experience than in the 18th century. Nevertheless, the principle still applies. We are better off electing people with wise judgment, who communicate well, have a vision for our future, and who will enact effective policies. The alternative is to elect only technocrats (who are more helpful “behind the scenes”), or even worse, for members of an elite class to continually hold power.
The selection of Sarah Palin is an important breakthrough in U.S. politics. This choice likely demonstrates that the McCain campaign is worried about their chances. They probably felt they needed to make a dramatic and exciting move to change the dynamics of the presidential race. But more importantly, I am hearing two iconic 1960’s songs in my head. Buffalo Springfield’s song “For What It’s Worth”, with the famous lyrics, “there’s something happening here, what it is ain’t exactly clear”. And Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changing”. When even the Republicans see a need to open up the halls of government, to break glass ceilings, we must acknowledge that this is a “change year”. Whether the Palin selection is a good or bad choice, politically pandering or not, the election of 2008 has already changed the American political landscape. Sarah Palin is the latest example. One day earlier, Barack Obama’s speech before a record crowd of 84,000 at Denver’s Mile High Stadium was another dramatic highlight in an amazing year of historic news. In 2008 we are finally recording a new soundtrack.
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